Sash support for sash balance unit



May 15, 1962 T. P. KOEBEL 3 SASH SUPPORT FOR SASH BALANCE UNIT FiledSept. 11, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l rm; Pigw 22 d m d 7776 y 15, 1962 T. P.KOEBEL 3,034,170

sAsH SUPPORT FOR SASH BALANCE UNIT Filed Sept. 11, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2SASH SUPPORT FQR SASH BALANCE UNIT Thomas P. Koebel, Homewood, Ill.,assignor to Zegers, inc a corporation of I linois Filed Sept. 11, 1959,Ser. No. 839,355 7 Claims. (Cl. 16-197) My invention relates to a sashbalance unit, and more particularly, to a sash support or platformtherefor which is particularly adapted to facilitate the application ofsuch supports c-r platforms to sash balance units.

Many fornlsof modern window units of the vertically movable sash typeinclude the well-known spring sash balance unit that is composed of aconventional coiled tension spring that is disposed within a grooveformed in the side rail of the sash and has one of its ends secured tothe window frame jamb to suspend the spring from the building framingstructure. The sash is attached to the lower end of the spring by whatis known in the art as a sash support or platform.

Sash supports'or platforms of the type referred to are conventionallysecured to the lower ends of such spring balances by engagement with thelowermost end of the spring wire member that forms the balance. Thislowermost end is customarily formed into an open loop that projectsaxially of the spring and the end of the wire forming the loop is passedthrough an appropriate eye or other attachment structure defined by thesupport or platform so that the support or platform hangs or dependsfrom the spring. The spring loop is then closed with pliers or a pressto prevent the platform from falling off during subsequent handling.

This manner of attaching the sash support or platform to the balancespring requires a special forming action on the lower end of the springto define the looped end to which the-platform or support is attached.Furthermore, the step of actually applying the platform to the springlooped end is essentially a hand operation because the manipulation ofthe parts required precludes ready mechanization.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a simplified sashsupport or platform of the type described above which is adapted to beapplied directly and auto matically between the convolutions of thespring balance, thus eliminating the need for the additional formingaction now required at the lower end of the balmice spring.

Still a further principal object of the invention is to provide asimplified sash support or platform which lends itself to massproduction purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified sash balancestructure which is economical of manufacture, convenient to assemble,and readily adapted for use in existing window assemblies without anymodification thereof.

Other objects, uses and advantages will be obvious or become apparentfrom a consideration of the following detailed description and theappended claims.

in the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmental perspective view of a typical double hungwindow structure to which a preferred embodiment of my invention hasbeen applied;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmental perspective view showing a preferredform of my improved sash support or platform applied to a spring balancemember, the adjoining portion of the sash being shown in outline;

FIGURE 2a is a fragmental plan view of a lower end of a conventionalspring balance member illustrating the open loop that is eliminated bymy invention;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of thesash support or platform shown inFIGURES 1 and 2, looliing at the top portion thereof from the front orouter side thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the support or plat- 3,034,170Patented May 15, 1962 structure 12 of a well-known modern style. Thewindow structure 12 includes upper and lower sash, the inner sash be ngindicated at 14, which ride on tracks 18 that are carried by combinationWeatherstrip and sash guide members Zil. As is well-known in the art,the sash side rails are conventionally formed with grooves 16 that arecomplementary in shape to the shape of tracks 18. Springs 22, securedbetween the tops of the members 20 and the bottom rails 23 of the sash,bias the sash upwardly of the window structure.

The sash platforms or supports it are employed to secure the sash to thelower ends of the respective balance springs 22 so that the bias of thespringsZZ is applied to the sash in the manner desired.

Sash balance springs 22 are preferably of the closed convolution typeand conventionally are attached, as shown in the arrangement illustratedin FIGUREl, to the upper ends of Weatherstrip members 24 by bending thetop two convolutions 25' of the spring into parallelism with the axis ofthe spring and then slipping the respective webs 24 of the members 2%between the upturned spring convolutions, as generally indicated inFIGURE 1. The upper ends of springs 22 may also be attached to the jambby a nail or the like extending through loop 27 that is defined by saidbent convolutions 25, as is well-known in the art.

In accordance with my invention, the usual looped end 26 indicated inthe conventional spring 2211 shown in FlGURE 2a is omitted and the lowerspring end 23 of spring 22 at its terminus 3% (see FIGURE 2) remainspart of the convolutions defining spring 22. Platform or is a rounded orarcuate wall 4% which terminates at ends I 42 disposed at either end ofa thin or tapered edge 44 of the web portion 34.

As seen in FIGURE 4, the lower surface 46 of the web portion isdisplaced above the lower surfaces 48 of the oppositelyextending-flanges or wings 36 to define a slotlike seat or pocket 50that is sufiiciently deep to accommodate two, or preferably three,convoiutions 72 of spring 22. Projecting downwardly from the lowersurface 46 of i the web portion 34 is a wedge-shaped lug or protuberance52 defined by side and end surfaces 54 and 56 and in clined surface 58,which commences diverging from the lower surface 46 of the web portionstarting from a point 60 adjacent edge 44 to point 62 in the plane ofend surface 56.

The circular or arcuate' wall 4t! is formed with right angle locatingcorners 64 that are proportionedto engage the opposed sides 65 (seeFIGURE 2) within the sash groove 16 to hold the platform'in properalignment with" respect to the-sash. Corners 64 respectively merge withthe forward ends of arcu'at'e wall 40 to define locatingpla nar surfaces67 at the bases of flanges 36 that extend the Width of the 'platform'The arcuate wall 4%} together with the upper surface 38 of web portion34,also defines apocket 66 for receiving adjacent convolutions of thespring 22.

to place the thin edge 44 of web portion 34 in contact with a recess 70defined by an adjacent pair of convolutions 72 and then press the Webportion into the center of i V the spring sufliciently so that the endwall'56 of the wedgeshaped lug 52 is lodged within the center of thespring. The adjacent lowerconvolutions 72 will be received in pocket 56while the upper adjacent spring convolutions 72. will be received in thepocket 66.

After the platform or support 10 is applied to the spring 22, the spring22 may be secured to the window jamb in the manner indicated in FEGURE2, or in any other suitable manner, after which the spring 22 istensioned or pulled downwardly of its track 18 to apply the sash to thetrack 18 of the combination Weatherstrip and sash balance unit. Asindicated in FIGURE 2, the lower end of the sash rests on the flanges36, which engage the lllrsldersurface of the sash on either side of thesash groove As already mentioned, shoulders 54 engage Within the sashgroove 16 so that surfaces 67 will hold the sash platform or support 10in proper alignment with the sash, and

accordingly, the shoulders or corners 6 4 should be proportioned forproper engagement with the sash rail structure.

' The wedge-shaped lug 52 insures that the platform will: not bewithdrawn from the spring without threading (or rotating) it downwardlypast termination 39 thereof.

'It should now be apparent that my improved sash platform or supportmaterially simplifies the manufacture and it between two adjacentconvolutions. This arrangement.

adapts the spring balance unit illustrated for assembly by massproduction methods in which the supports 10 are automatically insertedor applied to individual springs by machines or appropriate mechanismsemploying the steps shown in FIGURES and 6.

Spring 22 may assume the form of any closed convolu-tion spring, whileplatform or support may be made from any suitable metallic or plastic a.substance;

Preferably, it is an integrally united light-weight plastic spring sashbalance by being inserted between adjacent convolutions thereof, saidsash support comprising a platform member including a pair of oppositelyprojecting coplanar flanges, a relatively flat Web portion intermediatesaid flanges and fixed thereto, said web portion being formed with arelatively thin edge along one side thereof adapted to be interposedbetween adjacent convolutions of the spring, and an arcuate wallprojecting from the 1 upper surface of said web portion, said wallterminating element formed by an appropriate injection molding or 7 diecasting process.

"The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explainand illustrate my invention and the invention is not to be limitedthereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, sincethose skilled in the art who have my disclosure before them will be ableto make modifications and variations therein without departing fromthescope of the invention.

I claim:

l. A sash support adapted to be attached to coil spring sash balances bybeing inserted between the convolutions thereof, said support comprisinga substantially planar A web portion having a tapering lug projectingfrom one 7 surface thereof and tapering increasingly in thicknessinw-ardly of one edge of the web portion, and a pair of substantiallycoplanar oppositely extending flanges fixed to said web portion anddisposed substantially parallel to the plane of said web portion,whereby, when said edge of said web portion is pressed between twoadjoining spring convolutions to dispose said lug within the spring,said support is retained in the spring against'lateral displacement.

2. A sash support adapted tobe attached to a coil at end portionsadjacent said edge on either side of said web portion to define withsaid web portion a spring convolution receiving pocket, said web portioncarrying a wedge shape lug projecting from the lower surface thereof andincreasing in thickness from a point adjacent to said edge of said web.portion to a point inwardly thereof.

' 3. The support set forth in claim 2 wherein the under surfaces of saidflanges are disposed below said lower surface of said web portion todefine a second spring convolution receiving pocket at the underside ofsaid member.

4. The support set forth in claim 2 wherein said arcuate wall is formedwith symmetrically disposed right angle locating corners positionedrespectively on the. side of said web portion opposite 'said thinedge.

5. A sash support adapted to be attached to a coil spring sash balanceby being inserted between adjacent convolutions thereof, said sashsupport comprising a body comprising a web portion and a pair ofoppositely extending flanges afiixed to said web portion, said flangesprojecting from and extending in substantial parallelism with said webportion, said web portion defining an edge portion disposed between saidflanges andproportioned to be interposed between adjacent convolutions'of the spring, said body further including a wall structure projectlngsubstantially normally of said web portion and defining with said webportion a spring convolution receiving pocket having an opening alongsaid edge portion, said web portion carrying a tapered lug projectingfrom one of the surfaces thereof, said lug being spaced from said wellstructure along the plane of said web portion and increasing inthickness inwardly of said edge portion of said web portion.

6. A sash balance unit comprising in combination a closed convoiutioncoiled spring and a sash support secured to the spring by being receivedbetween adjacent convolutions thereof, said support comprising a bodyincluding a web portion and a pair of oppositely extending flangesafiixed to said web portion and projecting outwardly of the spring oneither side thereof, said web portion defining an edge portion disposedbetween said flanges thereof proportioned to be passed between saidadjacent convolutions of the spring, said body further including a wallstructure projecting substantially normally of said web portion anddefining with said web portion a spring convolution receiving pockethaving an opening along said edge portion, said web portion carrying atapeerd lug projecting from one of the surfaces thereof, said lug beingspaced from said wall structure along the plane of said web portion andincreasing in thickness inwardly of said edge portion of said webportion, said lug being positioned within the spring convolutions withthe portion of maximum thickness thereof adjacent the inner surface ofoneof the adjacent spring convolutions.

7. A sash support adapted to be attached to a coil spring sash balanceby being inserted between adjacent convolutions thereof, said sashsupport comprising a body including a web portion and a pair ofsubstantially oppositely extending flanges projecting to either side ofsaid web portion, said web portion defining substatnially oppositelyfacing surfaces and an edge portion proportioned to be interposedbetween adjacent convolutions of the spring, said body including a wallstructure projecting substantially normally of said web portion surfacesand defining with said web portion a spring convolution receiving pockethaving an opening along said edge por- 5 6 tion, and a tapered lugstructure carried by said web References Cited in the file of thispatent portion and projecting from one of said surfaces thereof, U ED TAS PATENTS said lug structure being spaced from said wall structure841,810 OBrien Ian 22, 1907 along the plane of said web portion andincreasing in 1 042 7 3 Ogle Oct 29 1912 thickness inwardly of said edgeportion of said Web 5 1,664,647 Sundstrand Apr. 3, 1928 portion. 72,786,230 Hettinger Mar. 26, 1957

